CJ McCollum wants Paul George to come to Portland
By Dre Elder
CJ McCollum opens up about his relationship with Paul George and his desire to have him as a teammate in Portland.
Paul George will not be an unrestricted free agent for another season, at least. But his name routinely surfaces in trade rumors. This week, Portland Trail Blazers’ guard CJ McCollum was the latest to join the fray. The Blazers were swept by the Warriors in the first round of the playoffs and McCollum knows his team needs more talent to compete in the Western Conference.
Portland has an exceptional trio of young talent with Damian Lillard, Jusuf Nurkic, and McCollum. But Lillard and McCollum are both undersized for their positions, which makes the Blazers vulnerable defensively. Paul George would fill a glaring need for Portland. He is an exceptional two-way player who would fortify their lineup by taking pressure off the backcourt. Adding George would be a major coup for the Blazers’ organization.
Last week while his flight was delayed, McCollum hosted an impromptu Q&A via Twitter. He was asked his opinion on Portland’s offseason agenda and offered George’s handle in response.
@Yg_Trece https://t.co/hscPgLyUAT
— CJ McCollum (@CJMcCollum) April 27, 2017
During a chat with Taylor Rooks this week, McCollum revealed he’s had discussions with George about the season, his mindset, and his prospective fit in Portland. The two apparently have a relationship that extends beyond the court. McCollum also acknowledged George would boost any team in the NBA.
Paul George averaged nearly 24 points and 7 rebounds during the 2016-17 season. Though the Pacers were swept by the Cavaliers in the first round of playoffs, George scored 28 points per game and shot 42.8 percent on 3-pointers in that series.
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It remains to be seen if the Indiana Pacers will indeed move their franchise player. If so, Portland will have competition for his services. And Indiana is likely to command a king’s ransom for George. Will the Blazers’ front office take McCollum’s public plea under advisement? They certainly should.